Hula hoop with orbiting satellite



May 5, 1970 w. D. SEYMOUR HULA HOOP WITH ORBITING SATELLITE Filed Sept. 13, 1967 INVENTOR. WILLIAM D. SEYMOUR ATTORN EY.

United States Patent 3,509,660 HULA HOOP WITH ORBITIN G SATELLITE William D. Seymour, 1100 NE. 160th St., Miami, Fla. 33162 Filed Sept. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 667,493 Int. Cl. A6311 1/32 US. CI. 46-51 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention shows a combined toy and exercise game that is adaptable to various uses. It comprises essentially of a Hula Hoop with a weighted satellite member attached to the Hula Hoop by a flexible line. Said line being attached to a collar which is slidably connected to the Hula Hoop. The device can be used by a person in the normal Hula Hoop manner so that the satellite stands out from the Hula Hoop in motion, and with two persons using two such devices an exciting game can be devised where each person attempts to hit the other persons satellite with his satellite. In addition a totally different amusement can be enjoyed whereby the satellite is held in the hand and the Hula Hoop is made to orbit itself in the nature of a lasso. In this latter application a propeller can be fixed inside the Hula Hoop so as to make the Hula Hoop go up or down depending on its direction of rotation. A release mechanism can be built into the collar so as to release the hoop to rise to considerable height.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in a toy or exercise device having multiple uses, and more particularly, to improvements in a device commonly referred to as a Hula Hoop."

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a novel device for multiple use as a toy, exercise implement, and game.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device which may be used in the manner of a Hula Hoop, using the rotational gyratory movement of the users hips and the principles of centrifugal force, to rotate a ball or other weighted object in an orbital path thus providing the therapy of physical exercise to the 11861.

A still further object is the provision of a toy which may be used in a multiple of ways to provide entertainment, such as whirling a lasso and in competitive games engaging more than one person, for example.

The invention lies in the combination, construction, arrangement, and form of various component parts and elements which will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views which illustrate one embodiment of said invention, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying the principal elements of this invention illustrating, in broken lines, the orbital path of the ball or weighted object about the hoop or ring member, a removable propeller blade is also illustrated.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary cross sectional view, taken on line 2-2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a person utilizing the device of this invention in Hula-Hoop fashion.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view illustrating the use of the device of this invention to spin the hoop with the hand applying rotative energy from the ball, through the line to the hoop, a removable plastic blade with spinning starter top-type point is also illustrated.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the device illustrating another manner in which it may be employed by the user holding the hoop in his hands.

Referring now, in detail, to the combination of elements which make up one form of the device of this invention there is shown in FIGURE 1 a hoop or ring member 10. It may be made of any desirable material, molded plastic, for example; and it may be hollow, as shown in the drawings (see FIGURE 2), or solid; light weight material being preferable.

A rubber ball or other weighted object 12 is slidably connected to the hoop or ring member 10 in the following manner. A flexible line 14 is fixed at its inner end to a collar or sleeve 16 which surrounds hoop ring 10 in a manner to permit it to slide freely around hoop ring 10 (see FIGURE 2).

It is thus apparent that by rotating the hoop ring 10, such as by gyrational movement of the users body, hoop ring 10 at a particular rate of speed and rhythm in relation to the weight of ball 12, will cause the ball 12 to stand out to its greatest orbital distance from hoop ring 10 and cause collar sleeve 16 to adapt a fixed relationship with hoop ring 10, as shown in FIGURE 3. This position is achieved through the principles of centrifugal force. The path of orbit of ball 12 is indicated in FIGURE 3. Such relative orbital path between ball 12 and hoop ring 10 will be retained until the rhythm of the gyratory force applied is altered, causing the flexible line to collapse from the straight taut operational condition shown in FIG URE 3.

The flexible line 14 may be adjustable as to length by any well known means, and line 14 may be fixed to ball 12 and at the opposite end to collar sleeve 16 by any well known suitable swivel means.

The invention hereinabove described may be used in many conceivable ways, for example, such as a toy for entertainment by one person, as a competitive game by more than one person, and as an exercise device for physical therapy.

The hoop ring 10 may be of any size but in this Hula- Orbit device, as shown in FIGURE 3, it is preferably smaller than the usual Hula Hoop, for example, a hoop of about eighteen inches in diameter may be used. Thus room is provided for the ball 12 to swing out in an orbital path, as shown in FIGURE 3. This is also established according to the users desire by adjusting the length of flexible line 14.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the user rotates his or her hips in a gyratory motion from within the confines of the hoop ring 10 until the ball 12 starts revolving around the hoop through its connection with the collar 14 as before described.

The Hula-Orbit device when used by one person is an exercise device, pleasurable to use and provides the physical therapy of increased suppleness, coordination, muscle building, weight reducing, increase of blood circulation, and affords many other advantages.

A game may be devised between two or more users of the Hula-Orbit device of this invention. This is accomplished by having each competitor or contestant start the ball 12 into orbiting position, as shown in FIGURE 3, and then attempting to cause the respective orbiting ball 12 to meet and cause an interruption in the game, that is one contestant may knock-out the orbiting ball 12 of another contestant, while at the same time maintaining the orbiting motion of his ball 12. Many variations may be devised. In playing such games it is desirable to lengthen flexible line 14 through its length adjusting means.

Referring to FIGURE 4, another game or entertainment use of the device of this invention is illustrated, that of spin-the-hoop, similar to twirling a lasso. In

this use the ball 12 is held in the hand allowing hoop motion from ball 12 through line 14 to hoop 10, with the hand holding ball 12 as shown. The effects of the centrifugal force and the even, smooth, rhythmically applied cir-cular motion to line 14 will cause the hoop to spin or rotate in a horizontal plane, similar to the effect of twirling a lasso. A propeller blade of suitable light weight plastic or other material as shown in FIGURES l and 4, may be added to the assembly and fixed to hoop 10 by suitable snap-clips 21, or other desired attachment means, which may be of friction detachable type. Line 14 may be fixed to hoop 10 permanently so that in twirling the device lasso fashion, the hoop 10 will rise when the hoop is twirled, assisted by the spinning propeller blade 20 may be provided with a central spinning top-like point 22 on the underside and at the central axis of the blade to assist the start of the taking-oif action caused by twirling hoop 10 by means of line 14 (see FIGURE 4). The propeller blade 20 may have any desirable pitch angle to assist the rising effect of hoop 10 when twirled. To allow a player to spin-the-hoop freely without twisting the line 14, a swivel connection 23 made of metal or other suitable material is located between ball 12 and line 14.

Referring to FIGURE 5, another toy or game use of the device of this invention is illustrated. In the use, the hoop 10 is held firmly in the users hands as shown in FIGURE 5, then the ball 12 is started spinning around the hoop 10, lifting each hand momentarily to allow the collar 16 to slip by the hand holding position on the hoop 10. This use develops co-ordination and is entertaining.

If desired, manually operable means or other type means may be provided to suitably fix the collar 16 to hoop 10 and prevent collar 16 from sliding around the hoop 10 which arrangement will assist the user in spinning the hoop 10 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. This means may take the form of any well-known clamping device, which is well known in the art (not shown in the drawings). When used in a lasso action as shown in FIGURE 4, but without propeller 20, the hoop 10 can be lifted over the operators head. The hoop '10 would then continue to spin and the sleeve 16 will remain stationary relative to the operator by sliding on hoop 10. When gravity returns hoop 10 to the normal lasso position the lasso action can be continued and the raising to an overhead position can be repeated as often as desired.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention, and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device consisting of a hoop member, a weighted satellite member, a sleeve member slid-ably arranged about said hoop member, a flexible line one end of which is fixed to said satellite member and the other end of which is fixed to said sleeve member.

2. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of said flexible line is adjustable.

3. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible line is attached at one end to said satellite by a swivel connection.

4. An amusement device as set forth in claim 3 wherein a release mechanism is attached to said sleeve member to enable said hoop member to release from said sleeve member and rise in the air.

5. An amusement device as set forth in claim 3 wherein a detachable propeller is located within said hula hoop.

'6. An amusement device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said propeller has a central spinning top-like point projecting from the hub of said propeller.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,366 8/1936 Catron 272-57 X 3,190,032 6/1965 Green et al 46-47 X 3,200,536 8/1965 Petitto 4651 FOREIGN PATENTS 818,879 6/1937 France. 1,154,383 9/1963 Germany.

137,973 1/ 1920 Great Britain.

ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

